Iran (IMNA) - Mehdi Pirsalehi said Iran’s self-sufficiency in radiopharmaceutical production represents a strategic achievement for the national health system, placing the country among the region’s frontrunners in the field. He noted that due to the short half-lives of radiopharmaceuticals and the impact of sanctions, importing these radioactive drugs is practically impossible, making domestic production essential to meeting patients’ needs.
Pirsalehi added that Iran ranks among the top three countries in the region in biotechnology. Knowledge-based companies that began operating about 24 years ago have since developed into major industries employing thousands of specialists. He said the country has entered advanced pharmaceutical technologies, with projects in personalized medicine and cell and gene therapy reaching final stages, and some products already receiving production licenses.
In August 2025, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said heavy water derivatives and plasma medicine are opening new horizons in drug development and medical treatment, marking a significant step in applying nuclear technology to public health. He announced the signing of a new cooperation agreement to advance plasma medicine research and national projects, describing it as a “document of collective will” aimed at strengthening healthcare through advanced technology.
Eslami also said that under a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health, clinical trials previously limited to Tehran University will be expanded to selected universities across the country, accelerating the spread of plasma-based technologies to different provinces so all Iranians can benefit simultaneously from these advances.
Speaking at ceremonies marking National Physicians Day, Eslami highlighted the AEOI’s success in producing more than 70 types of radiopharmaceuticals, which are supplied to over 220 nuclear medicine centers across Iran and exported abroad. He said the products are used in diagnostics, palliative care, and therapy, while about 20 additional radiopharmaceuticals are currently under research and in clinical trial phases.
Eslami explained that diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are advancing the frontiers of knowledge by improving precision in medical examinations, while therapeutic products focus on reducing patients’ suffering and enhancing treatment effectiveness.
Meanwhile, biotechnology products account for 60 percent of Iran’s pharmaceutical exports. Haleh Ahmadi, head of the association of pharmaceutical biotechnology producers and exporters, said in September that 99 percent of pharmaceutical biotechnology products are manufactured domestically. She noted that biotechnology medicines are exported to 40 countries worldwide, up from 35 countries in the previous Iranian calendar year, with exports valued at 120 to 130 million dollars.
Ahmadi said domestic biotechnology production saves the country about five billion dollars that would otherwise be spent on imports. She added that Iran currently produces 45 pharmaceutical biotechnology products, including medicines, diagnostic kits, and medical tools.
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